I’ve asked some of the best creators on YouTube, “How do you write such great titles?”
And they’ve all said the same thing: “I just model what works.”
So this email will show you 5 videos worth modeling to help you write great titles and save time.
Btw, if you want to see all of the titles and thumbnails from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.
Trail Mix
Title: I’ve Heard This Is The Best Trail In The World – SOLO HIKING THE LAUGAVEGUR IN ICELAND
Formula: I’ve Heard This Is The Best (Entity) In The World – (Specific Activity)
Hook score: + 356
Why this works:
Desire – This creator’s audience would love to solo hike the best trail in the world.
Extreme – “Best Trail In The World” is a lot cooler than “Really Cool Trail.”
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about something you heard is the best in the world.
Examples of this hook in action:
- I’ve Heard This Is The Best Sandwich In The World – EATING MCDONALD’S McRIB
- NBA Scouts Say This Is The Best Prospect In The World
Rise Up
Title: The Sudden Rise of UGC
Formula: The Sudden Rise of (New Trend)
Hook score: +422
Why this works:
Timeliness – This is about a current trend and it feels like news. People love news.
New opportunity – UGC is a new opportunity for people trying to make money online (this creator’s audience). People love new opportunities because they haven’t failed at the new thing yet, so it offers hope.
Negativity – This thumbnail sparks fear in the audience.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about the sudden rise of a new trend.
Examples of this hook in action:
- The Sudden Rise of Homesteading
- The Sudden Rise of Alex Hormozi
Starving Regrets
Title: If Only I Knew This About FASTING 5 Years Ago
Formula: If Only I Knew This About (Subject) 5 Years Ago
Hook score: +540
Why this works:
Negativity – This is about a regret that this creator has.
Curiosity – “If only I knew this…” builds curiosity by opening a loop. What did he wish he knew?!
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about what you wish you knew about a subject 5 years ago.
Examples of this hook in action:
- If Only I Knew This About Twitter 5 Years Ago
- If Only I Knew This About Living In Las Vegas 3 Years Ago
Wake n’ Make
Title: How to Wake up Before 6am Everyday
Formula: How to (Achieve Goal) Every Day
Hook score: +595
Why this works:
Desire – The specific desire of “Wake up Before 6am” is much better than just, “Wake up Early.”
Daily – People love things they can plug into their daily routine.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about how they can achieve a goal everyday.
Examples of this hook in action:
- How to Meet New People Every Day
- How to Get 10,000 Steps Every Day
Broke to Ballin
Title: from BROKE to ABUNDANCE mindset | *how this changed my life*
Formula: from (Negative State) to (POSITIVE State) | *how this changed my life*
Hook score: +891
Why this works:
Transformation – From a bad state to a positive state promises a good story and is exactly what the audience wants.
Curiosity – This builds curiosity a few ways. First, the “how this changed my life” part adds curiosity by opening a loop. Plus “changed my life” adds curiosity because it’s vague and open to interpretation. And finally, there’s contrast between “broke” and “abundance”.
How you can use this hook: Tell your audience about how you went from a bad state to a positive state.
Examples of this hook in action:
- from Dead Grass to a Thick Green Lawn | *how this changed my yard*
- from BROKE to ABUNDANCE mindset | *how this changed my life*
Flop of the Week
Title: How MSG Affects the Brain (good, bad, and ugly)
Hook score: -82
Why this flopped: This probably flopped because it doesn’t take a stance on MSG.
Looking at some of his other videos, they’ve either had an opinion (unlike this title’s “good, bad, and ugly”) or built curiosity.
The thumbnail is also bland and vague, just like the title.
Here are some other angles he could’ve taken with the title:
- MSG’s Surprising Benefits for Brain Health (positive stance)
- STOP Eating These Foods With MSG In Them (negative stance)
- This Controversial Ingredient Can Change Your Brain (curiosity driven)
Alright, that wraps up this week’s Creator Hooks!
And if you know a fellow creator who needs help with writing better titles, please send them to creatorhooks.com.
Here’s to the war on boring content.
– Jake
(@jthomas__ on Twitter)
P.P.S. If you want to see all of the videos from Creator Hooks in one place, check out Creator Hooks Pro.